A BELOVED sporting tradition of North Clare makes its comeback this Christmas after two years on the sidelines during the pandemic.
The annual Ennistymon Christmas Day basketball game returns for the 62nd time on the 25th of the month.
First played in 1958, Covid put a halt to the game so while it is 64 years since its initiation this will be only the 62nd edition.
No year had been missed where possible however, and the location of the games helps to illustrate some of the history of basketball in the area and its survival, Enda Byrt told the Clare Champion.
The game has been played at the Market House (The Madison Square Garden of basketball in its day!) The Town Hall, The Sluagh Hall Lahinch (now demolished) The Community Centre Ennistymon the Centre Lahinch, outdoors at the old Scout Hall court the Vocational School and once at the Pavilion Lisdoonvarna!
In recent years the Inagh Community Centre has hosted the game as it does this year tipping off at 12 noon Christmas Day, getting everyone home for dinner.
In 1958 emigration and migration were the reality throughout rural Ireland. Ennistymon was no different with the main employers being the local shops and the North Clare Creamery.
Against this background the St Michaels basketball Club was formed in 1955.
Lahinch had given the lead with the Dough Dodgers under the stewardship of the late Mick Leigh. When some of the young founding members of the newly formed club returned home for Christmas holidays, having secured employment further afield the first Home V Exiles game was initiated and played in the Market House.
Many of the players continued to come back for major competitions. Those who had emigrated were rarer visitors, but made occasional appearances.
The club had some ups and downs over those years but whatever the state of it, the Christmas Day game was always played.
When the club played under the Claremont Admirals banner in the 1980s, having started at the Centre Lahinch (the club members erected all the equipment) they would finish their first season playing home games at Renmore and Westside in Galway.
The Community Centre became available in 1984, where they again erected all the technical equipment and seating.
The Club had consistently the leagues biggest support out with 300 regularly attending games, however, sustaining a National League team was to become too difficult and the team had to withdraw in the late ‘80s.
The Clare Cascaders now fly the banner from U8 Girls and Boys to Senior Men and Masters Women with distinction, and as in the past club members have provided leadership and involvement at county, regional and national level.
The line-up is always in doubt and invariably turns up some surprises; all are welcome, male and female alike. In a way it is a small celebration of the connections formed through the game and a recognition of past members who gifted the game to all that followed.